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This is very handy as I never have to get the remote and change surround parameters.

Does Onkyo have a similar system?

Hi Yves,

The Onkyo has a similar function.

Here is an excerpt from page 58 of the manual describing the Listening Mode Preset function.

Quote:

Listening Mode Preset

You can assign a default listening mode to each input
source that will be selected automatically when you select
each input source. For example, you can set the default listening
mode to be used with Dolby Digital input signals.
You can select other listening modes during playback, but
the mode specified here will be resumed once the AV controller
has been set to Standby.

However, for Audyssey it is either on or off for all applicable listening modes.

For certain listening modes, such as Direct and Pure Audio, Audyssey is disabled.

For other listening modes, say Stereo, if you had previously decided to enable Audyssey, you couldn't preset the Stereo listening mode for no Audyssey if you enabled it for other listening modes. You would have to manually go into the Audyssey menus and turn it off.

The manual goes on to explain how the preset function works. In summary, you first select the Input Source Device, i.e. BD/DVD, VCR/DVR, etc. Then you select each Input Signal Format, i.e. Analog/PCM, 2ch Source, etc., and for each combination of Input Source Device and Input Signal Format you have the option of selecting from many available Listening Modes. You can also opt to select “Last Valid” for the last permited Listening Mode for the source format, or “Straight Decode” which means that no additional processing is applied to the input, it just decodes the signal.

Been running my 5508 for a week or so now; still building my system though. Got it pushing some Adam Audio S3X's (h's and v's) and I'm doing the 8 18" Fi IB3 drivers next (two sets of four for each sub output). Haven't dived into the Audessy yet, and been generally satisfied till it started dropping audio today with the directv input...but that may have been a directv receiver issue. Didn't like that the preset listening mode was stereo for bd input of DTS but got that rectified (changed the preset and it's working fine now).

Looking hard at the 5508, but some useability concerns compared to my Denon 4308.

First as asked before in this thread, can anyone confirm it does the following:

I have my BluRay player on DVD input. When i play a movie the Denon will default to 'direct' whatever surround mode it receives. 5.1 DTS and the receiver will set that mode. If it receives a stereo signal (ie I play a CD), it will default to the last stereo surround mode i used, Pro Logic or IIz or whatever I used for stereo surround last, on any input.
As I see it, Denon remember modes based on input signal, across selected inputs. So a mode change for a certain input format is global. Does the 5508 do this, or will it default to whatever surround mode is set on THAT input?

My denon has global Audyssey mode. I think the 5508 have the same?

Will the 5508 do Audyssey in any 'direct' stereo mode? My Denon can do Audyssey in any mode, and I use it all the time. No 'Direct' or 'Pure direct' Audyssey is a showstopper for me.

Any pictures of the GUI anywhere?

"Unplugging the signal cable is pretty much the ultimate in component isolation. Now if you removed the AC power and it still did it you should look for the little blond girl saying "they're he-re."

Direct on my denon is all tone controls and EQ besides Audyssey is off. Pure Direct is everything off, including display and video circuits, but Audyssey is still active. Which makes sense to me, because as long as you have bass management and stuff, the processor is still on and doing it's thing, so it may as well run Audyssey too. I like the option, and use it all the time.

So the 5508 will not let me switch off video circuits and all the other unneeded stuff in any directmode and still have Audyssey? What about bass management? Is Pure direct a 2channel, no DSP, no nothing mode?

"Unplugging the signal cable is pretty much the ultimate in component isolation. Now if you removed the AC power and it still did it you should look for the little blond girl saying "they're he-re."

So the 5508 will not let me switch off video circuits and all the other unneeded stuff in any directmode and still have Audyssey? What about bass management? Is Pure direct a 2channel, no DSP, no nothing mode?

Quote:

Originally Posted by pras1011

In Pure Audio everything is off (including sub, video, processing). In Direct everything excluding video is off (including sub, processing).

Quote:

Originally Posted by atledreier

Ok, thank you. That probably means I won't get it, then. Dang, i was hoping this was the replacement I've been looking for, to be honest. Oh well, they can't please everyone!

How big a difference have you found with the video on/off to make this a game-breaker? I fiddled with that option for a while on a number of processors but soon completely forgot about it. I just turn off the display for audio most (but not all) of the time and, oh, rarely ever use "direct."

The dealbreaker is lack of bass management in the direct modes. I can not see how they think excluding anyone without full range fronts from the direct mode benefits. Not many have true fullrange fronts in a setup where the 5508 is a natural component.
The video processing is probably not that noisy anyway.
Also, skipping Audyssey for these modes? With the direct modes you Are more critical than ever, and your room will not magically stop influencing the sound.

"Unplugging the signal cable is pretty much the ultimate in component isolation. Now if you removed the AC power and it still did it you should look for the little blond girl saying "they're he-re."

The dealbreaker is lack of bass management in the direct modes. I can not see how they think excluding anyone without full range fronts from the direct mode benefits. Not many have true fullrange fronts in a setup where the 5508 is a natural component.

Hmmm. What are you trying to accomplish with "direct?" Generally, it is for those who wish to avoid any processing and, imho, that includes the dsp used for bass management. Actually, I do use "direct" for exactly that reason as it allows me to A/B full-range vs. bass-managed, particularly with stereo sources.

Quote:

The video processing is probably not that noisy anyway.

Agreed or, at least, it should not be.

Quote:

Also, skipping Audyssey for these modes? With the direct modes you Are more critical than ever, and your room will not magically stop influencing the sound.

Sure but, again, what is the purpose of "direct" if not to avoid processing? And, certainly, Audyssey is the big elephant in that room.

Frankly, I see "direct" as useful only for testing/comparison, use with analog sources and as a sop to the old-fashioned who think that, as with analog, adding any additional process/device is detrimental. I'll take Audyssey (or the equivalent) over direct any time.

I'm assuming that Audyssey is not applied to the 7.1 analog inputs, just digital?

Do you mean eq is not applied? Audyssey is the program that determines the EQ settings. (and the dynamic eq settings as well)

I've poured through the manual (located here: http://www.intl.onkyo.com/downloads/...8_manual_e.pdf) and I'm not sure some of the statements here are correct. I can't see where eq is turned off for either mode (or bass management, for that matter). Here's the quote for each mode:

Pure Audio- In this mode, the display and video circuitry are turned off, minimizing possible noise sources for the ultimate in high-fidelity audio reproduction. (As the video circuitry is turned off, only video signals input through HDMI input can be output from an HDMI output(s).

Direct-In this mode, audio from the input source is output without surround-sound processing. The speaker configuration (presence of speakers), speaker distances and A/V Sync settings are enabled, but much of the processing set via HOME is disabled. See Advanced Setup for more details (➔ 43).

Also, you've some choices of what does get included when Direct or Pure Audio mode is chosen. Here's more info:

■DSD
DAC Direct
􀁠Off:
DSD signals are processed by the DSP.
􀁠On:
DSD signals are not processed by the DSP.
This setting determines whether or not DSD (Super Audio
CD) audio signals are passed through the DSP for A/V
Sync, delay, etc., processing when the Pure Audio or
Direct listening mode is selected.
Note
Once you have selected On, only DAC Direct will be available
for selection.

Do you mean eq is not applied? Audyssey is the program that determines the EQ settings. (and the dynamic eq settings as well)

Yes, that's what I'm after. I would use the 7.1 analog inputs for my DVDA/SACD player but would like to take advantage of the Audyssey room correction. If it can only be applied though the HDMI input (for DVDA/SACD playback) than I would by an Oppo 93 when it's available.

It seems to be saying that in either the Off or On setting bass is not being output from the Subwoofer.

What is your interpretation of what this means?

In which menu is this feature set?

Thanks.

Larry

I think you're right; but once I build my subwoofer setup later this week I'll do some experimentation to find out some answers on several things. We know how things go when a non american company translates a users manual into English sometimes. Lots can get lost or confused.

To me that seems to indicate you do indeed have bass management in the direct modes.

Hi,

Let's hope that's what Onkyo meant, but what they actually describe in the manual is a situation without the subwoofer being active for either setting. As you know you've got to have an active subwoofer to have bass management.

Hopefully Coby will be able to clarify this feature after he does some experimentation.

I am assuming this mean it is "installer Ready"? Nothing yet on the Audyssey website on any functionality for this unit.

Hi Stephen,

While it is true that currently the Onkyo websites, both the Onkyo the Onkyo Professional websites, state that the 5508 is MultEQ Pro Ready, it should be pointed out that when the 5507 was initially released it's documentation also stated that it was MultEQ Pro Ready, yet later the websites were revised to omit this feature. To date there is no credible information confirming that the 5507 is Installer-Ready. So if MultEQ Pro functionality is important to you, I would wait a bit for a user to confirm this rather than relying on Onkyo documentation.

Audyssey admits that version 3.4 of the MultEQ Pro software has not yet been released by Audyssey. So the latest models that are MultEQ Pro Ready, i.e. Denon AVR-4311, Integra DHC-80.2, etc., still can't use this feature even if they possess the necessary firmware.

Rumor has it that Audyssey will be releasing version 3.4 of the MultEQ Pro software in November. So until this software is finally released we shouldn't expect to see any of the newer Installer-Ready devices, including the Onkyo PR-SC5508, listed on the Audyssey website